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FIRE ESGAPB.

Ny PETERS Plwmumagnphar, Wilmington. D c.

UNITED STATES f PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. MORRIS, OE NEw YORK, N. Y.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECTFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 289,924, dated December 11, 1883.

Application filed September 13, 1883. (No model.)

ToaZZ whom, t may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN B. MORRIS, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at New York, in the countyof New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Fire- Escape, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. y

This invention relates to fire-escapes, and especially to that class of the same in which the descending rope is operated by friction,

the descent being regulated or stopped at anyl point by the person in the seat.

To attain this end, the said invention consists in certain detailsof construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter fully set forth,

' and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved fire-escape, showing the same applied in position. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the casting attached to the seat. Fig. 3 is a detail View of the triangularshaped bar. Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the friction-block.

Like letters refer to corresponding parts in the several gures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a metallic rod" or bar triangular in shape, its middle arm, c, being formed with a screwthreaded portion, Z, by'means of which it is secured in position to a window at any suitable point.

B designates a friction-block, formed at the upper'end with an eye, C; to receive a loop, D, which is passed vover the arms c c of therod A, soas to support the friction-block. Said block is formed with vertical grooves or recesses E E', one on each side, and a rope, F, passes through an opening, e, connecting with recess E, from said recess through an opening, f, which connects with recess E', and finally from the recess E outward through an opening, g, the end of the rope being secured in an eye, h, of a casting, G. ,l The other end of the rope F rests onthe ground,

said rope being used as a means for regulating the descent, as hereinafter described.v The casting G is formed with a transverse slot, H, in which is secured the upper end of a seat, I, consisting of a continuous band, J, adapted to which the person sits, and a supplemental band, K, attached to theupper portion of band J, and passing around so as to connect with said band, a snap-hook, L, being secured on the end'of band K and connecting with a ring, M, fitted in a loop or extension, N, ofthe band J. This construction of seat is simple, convenient, and efficient, since it is readily adj usted, while the bands will hold the person from any danger of falling' out of the seat.

A rope, O,`i'sconnected to an eye, l?, at the lower end of friction-block B, and passes from the same through another eye, Q, at the upper end of casting G, downward toward the ground.

`The object of the rope O is to draw the casting carrying the seat, with its occupant, outward away from' the. burning building.

The operation of my invention can be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the annexed drawings. The fastening-bar A is applied to the window in the manner shown, and the loop D encircled around the same, the seat I being nearly on a level with `the window-sill, so as to be convenient and easy of access. When the seat is occupied, the weight of the occupant will draw onto rope F, causing the latter to slide or slip through the friction-block, and as the rope slides the seat descends gradually. In descending, the occupant catches hold of the free portion of rope F, and is thereby steadied in his seat, while said rope also serves to regulate the rapidity of the descent, and also to stop the downward movement of the seat altogether. It will be seen that the construction of the seat will prevent vpersons from falling out ofthe same, and the operation of the escape will be efficient. The weight of the occupant draws rope F through the friction-block steadily, so as to descend rapidly, though in a gradual manner; but should .the descent become too rapid for safety a slight tug onto rope F will decrease the speed. Thus I provide means for causing the descent of persons from encircle the lower portion of the body, and in" a building without any outside aid, while the descent will be under the control of the occupants of the escape. The sliding of the rope IOO is convenient, so that the parts can be readily adjusted. By means of rope O the sent, with its occupant, can be brought out from proximity to :t burning building, und thus this danger will be avoided.

It will be obvious that various modiiiontions may be resorted to Without departing` from the spirit or scope of my invention.

I claim- 1. In a. fire-escape, the combination of fastening-bar A, loop D, and frietion-bloek B,Wth the seat connected to the friction-blockl by :means of rope F and a rope, O, as herein set forth.

2. In a fire-escupe, the combination of fastening-bztr A, loop D, and frictionbloek B,With a Casting, G, having eyes h Q, and a slot, H, a

JOHN B. MORRIS.

lVitnesses:

J onN DUFFY, JAS. H. BUTLER. 

